All Over Albany

Olive and June Floral Co.

Project: Olive and June Floral Co., a floral design company located in Albany.

Who: Cassie Vogel

Short bio
Olive and June Floral Co., named after my two young daughters, is a floral design company located in Albany, New York. When I graduated college with a degree in counseling I realized a few things about myself; I didn't want to be a counselor, but I did want to have a career that would allow me to work intimately with people and simultaneously allow me to be creative. I loved flowers and the connection florists get to have with their clients. After researching flower schools and not liking what I saw, I decided to venture out with what little skills I had and was determined to learn along the way. Three years later I am a self taught florist that has been able to teach workshops, collaborate with other creatives, and make the dreams of many brides come true. My floral style is organic and versatile; we bring creativity, whimsy, and beauty to any event. My goal is to learn you story, your style, your vision, then design an event unique to you and incredibly beautiful.

Photos of a flower crown workshop I taught at Fort Orange. / courtesy of Joe Vogel Photography

A description of the proposed project
While I've been doing florals for three years, we are a new company to the Capital Region and the response to our floral work has been excitingly overwhelming! We are quickly booking weddings, being asked to teach, make deliveries, and fulfill the community's floral needs.

Currently I am working from home, but I have outgrown the space. I am so excited about the opportunity to have a shared space and move in to Fort Orange General Store in Downtown Albany. I'm passionate about small businesses connecting and I am so thrilled to be able to partner with Fort Orange; my florals and design aesthetic fit seamlessly with Fort Orange and we compliment each other with our products. As I move my business in to Fort Orange I will need to build out my studio space and purchase necessary equipment to host my expanding clientele.

How would the grant money help?
Olive and June Floral Co's studio space at Fort Orange General Store will be a place for me to design but it will also increase my capacity to take on more brides, to make more deliveries, and connect with more members of the community. When my husband and I moved to the Capital Region we knew that we wanted to invest in Albany and for our businesses to be Albany based; I'm so excited to be able to bring my aesthetic to the community and meet amazing people along the way. The grant money would be used build a bar that will double as a workbench and also be a place that I can have consultations with clients. I will also use the grant money to purchase a cooler so my flowers can stay fresh even in the humid summer months, and any remaining funds would install a work sink and a counter space. I'm so thrilled not just have a bigger space to work, but to have a space to invite my customers to. I hope you stop in and say hi! Thank you so much for the support, I couldn't live my passion without you!